By Abdelraouf Arnaout
JERUSALEM (AA) - Official Israeli estimates indicate that another prisoner-hostage exchange deal with Hamas, and a humanitarian pause in the Gaza Strip could be achieved by January, Channel 13 quoted officials as saying on Wednesday.
The negotiations will include the release of some Israeli hostages in Gaza in exchange for a two-week humanitarian pause, setting free prominent Palestinian prisoners, and withdrawal of the army from certain areas in Gaza, the officials said.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh reached Cairo on Wednesday for talks believed to focus on the cease-fire and the exchange deal.
Egypt, along with Qatar, helped mediate a weeklong cease-fire in November in which Hamas freed over 100 hostages in exchange for Israel’s release of 240 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas and other groups are still holding about 129 captives.
At least 20,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since Oct. 7, according to health officials in the enclave. There’s also been widespread destruction of homes and other infrastructure.
Israel says 1,200 people were killed in the October attack by Hamas.
Earlier this week, Israeli intelligence chief David Barnea met CIA director Bill Burns and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Warsaw to discuss efforts to reach a new deal with Hamas, according to multiple reports.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says "we are continuing the war to the end. It will continue until Hamas is eliminated."
*Writing by Mohammad Sio in Istanbul